Nepalese team makes history, scales K2 in winter.

GILGIT -- Ten Nepalese climbers on Saturday set a record by scaling Pakistan's K2 (8,611m), the world's second highest mountain and the only one among the 8,000m peaks that had never been climbed before in winter.

The same day, however, a Spanish climber lost his life after falling into a crevasse at camp 1.

Over 60 international climbers from 18 countries had arrived at the K2 base camp and started their adventure in early January to try and scale what is also known as the Savage Mountain or the King of North, as winds there can blow at more than 200km an hour and temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius in winter.

On Saturday at about 1656 hours, the 10 Nepalese climbers from three different expedition teams stood on the top of K2. The achievement was the result of a remarkable collaborative effort between Nepalese climbers affiliated with multiple teams: one led by Nirmal Purja and the other by Mingma Gyalje Sherpa. In the days before last night's summit push, the two groups combined forces.

Spanish mountaineer, who was part of the SST international winter expedition team, falls to death

'The impossible is made possible, history made for humankind and Nepal... A very special moment. The whole team waited 10m below the summit to form a group then stepped onto the summit together,' said jubilant Nirmal who along with Mingma was leading the Nepalese climbers' team.

He said: 'We are proud to have been a part of history for humankind and to show that collaboration, teamwork and a positive mental attitude can push limits to what we feel might be possible.'

Mingma Gyalje, also a team leader, said: 'Finally, we did it. We made the history in mountaineering field.'

The 10 summiting team members, originally from three expedition teams, were Nirmal Purja, Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Temba Sherpa, Mingma Gyalje, Dawa Tenjin Sherpa, Kilu Pemba Sherpa and Sona Sherpa.

The other members of three expedition teams remained at camp 1, camp 2 and base camp.

SPANISH climber Sergio Mingote Moreno

Also on Saturday, Spanish climber Sergio Mingote Moreno, who was part of the SST international winter expedition team, lost his life while returning to base camp when he fall into the crevasse from Camp 1.

Earlier, Mr Gyalje said K2 was the only 8000ers remaining to be climbed in winter and that no Nepalese had ever been on the list of first winter ascent on 8000ers. 'Nepal is proudly home of eight...